2 Italian Destinations that have it all
If we want to talk about a unique country, a destination which can combine history, culture, art, food and all a traveler can dream, unavoidable our thoughts head to Italy.
Leaving aside the big cities such as Rome, Milan, or Napoli, which are well known around the world, there are some others which can perfectly fill your hunger of discovering. Cities that are perfectly enjoyable in a few days and which offer an enviable atmosphere, each one in its own way.
Venice
Probably the most romantic of all, we melt at the thought of a gondola ride or a dinner at sunset in front of the iconic "Ponte di Rialto". The small and charming Venice could be perfectly adaptable for a 3 nights itinerary, but how?
Day 1
We would start the journey with walking along the iconic “Ponte di Rialto” until “Piazza San Marco” (St. Mark's Square), the center of Venice and the protagonist of most Instagram pictures!
Once you are here, we recommend you visit the “Basilica di San Marco” (St. Mark’s Basilica) the masterpiece of Byzantine architecture in Veneto, and the “Campanile di San Marco” (St Mark’s Campanile) one of the most recognizable symbols of the city with a spectacular view!
As you see, you don’t have to go so far to get amused with the beauty of Venice.
To conclude the first day, we suggest the “Palazzo Ducale” (Doge's Palace), a palace built in Venetian Gothic style, we are sure its interior will leave you speechless!
Day 2
Probably the second most popular bridge in Venice is “Ponte dei Sospiri” (Bridge of Sighs). What you don’t know about this "lover’s bridge" is that once it was a ramp where recently convicted inmates were transported. Oops!
If you are an architecture fan, then you should visit some other important churches in Venice such as “Santa Maria della Salute” and “Santi Giovanni e Paolo”.
Of course, we do not forget about the gondola ride! Who can say “I have been in Venice” without this memory in the Grand Canal!
Besides, remember you can’t leave Venice without testing an original Venetian Spritz! The perfect excuse to order a “cicchetti”, these are small starters made with typical products, what a delight!
Day 3
For the third day we leave a little about history and traditions.
You can visit the Venetian Ghetto where Jews were forced to live in 1561¸ a completely different world inside Venice.
We arrive almost to the end and our recommendation to conclude is the Murano and Burano tour, these are 2 small islands close to Venice, so colorful and magic!
Murano is specializes in Murano crystal, handcrafted using a blowing technique by the craftsmen, an experience you won’t want to miss!!
Florence
Start taking notes and preparing the camera because every corner or Florence is spectacular!
Day 1
There are two iconic Squares in Florence, the first one is "Piazza Duomo or Duomo di Santa Maria del Fiori".
You can visit the church for free, but you will need to get a ticket for the Giotto's Campanile and "Cupola di Brunelleschi", an absolute masterpiece of art that has enchanted the world for centuries since its creation. It is the symbol of Florence and Renaissance.
Day 2
We reserve the second day for art and culture. For our art lovers, Florence offers some of the most important museums in the world, but there are two that you just can’t miss!
“Galleria degli Uffizi and Galleria dell’Academia”, in the first one you will find a collection which includes masterpieces by Botticelli, Raffaello, Leonardo and Michelangelo. It is hard to imagine visit the entire museum in one day, and for this reason we suggest focus in the principal rooms or your favorite artists.
Regarding the “Galleria dell´Academia” it has the largest collection in the world of statues by Michelangelo, but, the most important reason, you can admire with your own eyes “Il David”, placed in a tribune built specifically to act as a scenography. The statue was moved here in 1872 to ensure greater safety and today is admired by millions of visitors every year.
Day 3
If you haven’t had enough of museums, then we will add “Palazzo Pitti” to the list, where you can find an important part of Raphael, Titian and Caravaggio works, and a moderns art gallery dedicated to the Florentine Macchiaioli and artists such as De Chirico or Morandi.
At the back of the museum, you can find the Boboli Gardens, a historical park which represents one of the first and most important examples of the Italian garden, which later served as inspiration for many European courts.
The large green area is a real open-air museum with fountains, caves and statues of various styles and periods, ancient and Renaissance, that are distributed throughout the garden.
To say goodbye to Florence, we recommend you go up to “Piazzale Michelangelo”, from which you can enjoy the most beautiful view of the city. It has a panoramic terrace built in the years when Florence was the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, and where you can admire all path walked.
These destinations have magic guaranteed! Hoping that these itineraries will serve as a guide on your next visit, we say goodbye for now.
